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Federal Deadline Creates Housing Uncertainty For Puerto Rican Evacuees

In the wake of an island-wide blackout, evacuees from Puerto Rico living in western Massachusetts gathered Thursday at the Springfield offices of U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey to call for a housing solution. 

Many evacuees from Puerto Rico temporarily relocated to hotel rooms after Hurricane Maria. But federal resources to pay for the housing ends April 20.

Some evacuees wonder if they’ll soon be homeless -- including Rosa Rosado, who spoke through a translator.

"What are you guys planning to do with all these families in this cold, in these streets?" she said she planned to ask the senators.

Springfield City Councilor Adam Gomez said the solution isn't simple.

"We need vouchers," he said. "These folks can’t just pick up and find an apartment. We know that we have a low housing stock in Western Massachusetts. There’s a lot of disparities. This just adds to it. Some of these folks can’t go home, so this is their home."

Some members of the group spoke by phone with Markey's state director, Massachusetts state Rep. Jim Cantwell, who has offered to meet next week.

In a letter sent to FEMA on Thursday, Warren and Markey asked the federal agency to permit families enrolled in the government's Transitional Shelter Assistance program to be able to continue living in designated shelters. They also said their staff will hold Springfield office hours on Friday for those impacted by the housing situation.

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